Homeowners who set a deadline for offers tend to get a faster deal for more money than those without a deadline; still, due dates can be ignored

Want to get people moving? Set a due date. In real estate, deadlines bring results—and high returns.

So far this year, 58% of home listings with published offer deadlines sold above list price, according to an analysis of 37 major metropolitan markets in the U.S. by real-estate brokerage Redfin. Listings with offer deadlines also averaged 31 days on the market, compared with 61 days for listings without published deadlines.